What's Been Going on in the Campo

05/10/07 Caterpillars on the Swede

Am inspecting the swede every morning for caterpillars.
It was around this time last year that our swede were totally defoliated by the little monsters. The plants survived and did put out new leaves later on and we still had usable swede. The yield must have been seriously affected though.

We have had some caterpillars this year but I have been able to either pick them off individually and remove them or, where they are present in large numbers, remove part or the whole leaf.
We appear to be keeping on top of the problem and it only takes a minute each morning. I would much prefer to do this than to use any sort of spray on them.

The brassicas which were planted out last month appear unaffected (they are growing well at the moment) but I do of course keep and eye on them.